Combination binding and anchor device for floor coverings



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COMBINATION BINDING AND ANCHOR DEVICE FOR FLdoR COVERINGS Filed March 1, 1955 i IM ENTOR. fizz/1k (5. karma United States Pateiit'Oflfice 2,820,980 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 COMBINATION BINDING AND ANCHOR DEVICE FOR FLOOR COVERINGS Frank S. Karas, Stamford, Conn.

Application March 1, 1955, Serial No. 491,375

8 Claims. (Cl. 16-7) This invention relates to a combination binding and anchoring device for protecting the marginal edge portions of a fioor covering while at the same time firmly securing and anchoring the floor covering to a supporting surface.

Heretofore a combination binding and anchoring member has been provided for protecting and securing an edge portion of a floor covering to a supporting surface, particularly those edges in the'vicinity of a doorway, a hearth of a fireplace, or other openings, and the like, wherein the floor covering is subjected to much use. These have been constructed of relatively soft, pliable material such as aluminum, brass, or the like, so that the member could be bent to grip and to form a protective binding along the edge portion of the floor covering. It was the further practice to provide such members with projecting tangs, usually formed integral therewith to pierce a floor covering in order to anchor it in place. inherent disadvantage in such a device was that the tangs,

.so formed of such a soft material, had insufiicient strength in which to positively secure the covering to a supporting surface. As a result normal use of the covering would soon cause the tangs to be bent orsheared from the anchoring means, rendering the anchor portion vinefiective as a fastening means to firmly anchor the floor covering to .a supporting surface. ardous condition in that one could easily trip and severely This produces a hazinjure himself on such insecurely fastened edge; portions of a floor covering.

Also, it was the practice to merely'resiliently press and secure the prior known devices of this type to a supporting surface by use of fasteners, such as nails positioned at regularly spaced intervals. Now the disadvantage of merely resiliently pressing such a device against a supporting surface was that it did not provide a sufiicient seal against the accumulation of dust, dirt, and other foreign matter beneath the floor covering secured thereto.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a combined binding and an choring device whereby the binding portion is made of a relatively soft material to form a grip and a protective binding for an edge portion of a floor covering, and the anchoring portion connected thereto made of a much harder and stronger material and provided with integral novel holding means to pierce and securely anchor the floor covering in place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a com- 7 bination binding and anchoring member with a means which is adapted to form a positive seal with a supporting surface to positively prevent the accumulation of foreign matter beneath the floor covering.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined binding and anchoring device which is relatively simple, inexpensive and easily produced.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a combination binding and anchoring portion whereby providing a two-part binding and anchoring device which retains the advantages of the soft metal edge and in j addition provides a secure holding means for the floor covering.

' prises a strip of relatively soft material, or the like, generally in the form of an extruded or molded elongate V the anchoring portion of the device is provided with a weakened portion at regularly spaced intervals to facilitate the fracturing thereof into any desired lengths to provide anchor members of determinate length corresponding to that of a predeterminate length of a binding member.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a sectional side view of the novel binding and anchoring device as applied to an edge portion of a floor covering.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the novel binding and anchoring device illustrating the details thereof.

The combined binding and anchoring device, according to this invention, is adapted to be placed along the exposed edge portion of a floor covering such as a rug, a carpet, or the like, so that the edge portions adjacent openings such as, for example, doorways, around projecting hearths of fireplaces, or the like, are protected from abrading or becoming worn while at the same time firmly and positively securing the covering, or the like, to a supporting surface so as to prevent one from tripping or stumbling thereover.

As shown in the drawings, the novel binding and I anchoring device comprises essentially two parts, namely a binding member A and an anchoring member B.

vHeretofore such combined binding and anchoring devices .made of such soft and pliable material were ineifective to securely anchor the floor covering to a supporting surface in that the tangs which were made of like material would shear or bend when under pulling forces'applied to the rug so as to render the anchoring portion thereof ineffective.

The present invention overcomes this disadvantage by As illustrated in Fig. l, the binding member A comstrip of aluminum, brass, copper, or the like, having a 1 base portion 10 adapted to engage the floor and having 50 I portion 11 adapted to extend up and over the edge of the from one edge and upwardly extending curved or cover floor covering 12 and to be moved into overlying and clamping relation with the edge of the floor covering. The base portion 10 may be secured to the floor by any suitable means 13 and has connected to the opposite edge thereof means B for securely holding the rug against movement away from the edge binding means. This holding means B comprises a 'strip of steel plate 14 adapted to be securely anchored to the edge portion and is provided with tangs 15 projecting thereabove to pierce the back of the floor covering and hold it against movement away from the edge. While the holding means can be made to form a flat continuation of the base 10 for installations wherein a floor covering pad 16 is not employed, in the herein illustrated form of the invention, the edge portion 10a of the base is inclined upwardly and the holding means B is formed as an extension thereof with the rear edge or leg portion folded down to support the back end of the plate a distance above the floor equivalent to that of the rug pad 16 as shown in Fig. 1.

Morespecifically as shown in Fig. 1, the binding member A has-a base portion 10. provided with a longitudinal means.

a substantially horizontal base or floor-engaging portion b and an upwardly-inclined marginal portion 10a. Connected tothe edge of the floor-engaging portion .101 is a cover portion 11 which extends upwardly therefrom and overlies the floor-engaging portion-so as to form a receiving chamber 11a for engaging the edge portion of a floor covering 12 to form a trim thereon. Because the binding portion A is made of a relatively soft material,,the cover member 11 thereof may be bent so as to bite into the floor covering as shown in Fig. 1 toform .a binding therefor and to aidin securing ;the;cover ing to the anchoring portion. Spaced'apertures 17'a1ong the floor-engaging member 10b thereof receive afastening means1'3 such as nails,'screws,'or-1the like, by which the binding member is secured to a supporting'surface 18.

In order that dust, dirt, and other such foreign matter be prevented from accumulating beneath the edge portion of the covering, a toe portion "19 extendingthe length of' the binding member A is provided adjacent thejunction of'the cover portionlluandnthe floor-engaging portion 10b sothat the toe 19 may bite into thesupporting surfacelS when thebinding elementisfastened-to a supporting surface as shown :in Fig. 1. This arrangement positively prevents dirtifrom accumulating beneath the binding portion thereof.

As illustrated, the holding oranchoring?meansBiis formed of an elongated-steel plate body 14 which-"is a harder and :.stronger material than that 'of the binding portion. As shownin Fig. 2,the anchoring member '3 isan-elongatd'steel'platemember 14 having -a iongitudinal "bend therein forming a substantially vertical j le'g portion 14a and adownwardly-in'clined table portion 14b, the'leg portion "14a being ofa suflicient length to equal thethickness of a pad 16, if one is placed'beneath a floor covering.

While any suitable means may be used to'fasten these twoymembers together, the. illustrated form 'of the'invention provides-interlocking means by which the anchoring portion is fastened to the binding portion. As shown, the inclined marginal portion 10:: of the binding member A is provided with spaced apertures 20, preferably spacially disposed intermediate the apertures ,17, for; receiv ing the fasteners securing the binding portion. to the supporting surface, to receive a tongue portion 21 stamped binding member Aand anchoring device B is fastened to a supporting 1surfacein the desired position on a supporting surface by fastening means, such as nails extending through theapertures in the floor-receiving portion of the binding member. Withthe device accordingly fastened to the floor, the toe portion 19 thereof will bite into the supporting surface forming a dust and dirt-proof seal therewith. In this position the device is ready to receive the cdgeportion of .the floor covering. T hecover- .ing 11 is positioned .to be received vwithin the recess or chamber g11a formed ,by the cover portion ll and the floor-engaging portion 10b of the binding member. The cover portion 11 is then bent so as to grip the edge portion of thecovering, ;as shown in Fig. 1, and cooperates with "the tangs 15which piercethe ,backing portion .of ,the'fioor cover-ing soas ,to securely maintain the floor ;cover ing in fixed position. ,forrnssanwadequate protection for the exposed edgestof a -.fioor covering :while at the :same time maintaining a dust-free, seal'ftherefor. :With the use of this novel ,bind- :ing :and zianchoring :device adjacent openings such as Thus the ,binding member zdoorway s,qor--the like, thefloor :covering is securely or punched out of the table portion 14b of the anchoring In order that the'floor covering may besecurely'fas- 'tenedin place to a supportingsurface, the anchoring mb r B is pro d wi h plur i y of ng tl 1 1 ud na ly sP e al n a 1 p rti n lbt reof an which a a e mp r pu he th r rom,-

p vid an vexpediellt nd nexp n i e me n tor manu cturing =said-anchoring'means. 'As shown in'fig, '2, the-tangs a Substantially triangular in. shap herein ill st ate as forming obtuse triangles, which in raised project ed position are rearwardly'sloped. ;In the illustrated; form, the tangs 15-arelatera1lyzbentso that the bottom. portion 15a thereof lies in a substantially transverse perpendicular plane relative to said table. portion 1417. With thisjconstruction, the tangs are greatly. strengthened and not easily In this manner the two aresecurelyffastened.

ianchored' and'protectedmlong the exposed edges thereof 1 so that one iwill-nottrip. or stumble thereon. Thev novel .device'described:further ,"prevents the edge portions vof afioorcoveringfrom interferingywith the operation of a doorjinthe :vicinity thereof.

-Variations and'modifications may .be made within the scope ofthe claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I- cIaim: 7 l. Aprotective andanchoring device fora floor covering comprising anelongate protective binding member of readily bendable materialhaving a base portion "adapted to be secured to a floor and a cover portion con- -nectedatotextendalong. one edge of thebase portion to v project upwardly and overlie the basein spaced relation and bcing=adapted to -bebent relatively to thebase-portion so-asto grip the edge portionof a floorcovering there- "between, anchoring means-connected to the otheredge of *the'baseportion to form -a 'rigid continuation thereof and comprising a member of metal more resistant to .to extend along one edge ;of the base portion thereof bent or broken because' the thickness of the1tang 15 in v the direction of the force applied :thereto is greatlyrincreased, thereby insuring that the covering. ismaintained 'in position.

'Since thebinding members are usually-extruded and are formed in varying predetermined lengths andcanxbe easily cut, it is desirable that the anchoring -member,

which is'also produced as elongate strips, hie-provided with weakened portions so that the anchoringplate :rnayv be: readily fractured into lengths corresponding- :to .;that

In the illustrated form ithcse weakened portions of the I. anchoring st'rips"-.consist of cooperating notches zl' and: score markstZZzat-rgularly of the binding portion.

"bending'thanthe binding member so as to have cone ;siderable resistance to" bending and extending therealong and having-tangsprojecting upwardly therefrom adapted to biteinto the back of the floor covering to'holdit against movement-away from the cover portion.

' 2. "A protective and anchoring "device for a floor covering comprising anelongate protective, readily bendable aluminum binding member having a base portion adapted to be secured to a floor and'a cover portion connected to project upwardly and overlie the; base in spaced relation and adapted to he readily bent to grip the edge portion of afloor covering therebe'tween, anchoring means connected. to the other edge of the base portion to form a rigid construction therewith, and comprising asteel platezextendi lg .therealonE, .said plate being. more resistant to bending thanthe binding member and ,having tang iproi ting p a dlylherefro p white-into 1 the ,hack ofthe floor covering to hold it; against; movement away fromgthe cover portion.

.-3.. A .protectivew oring device, for a floor. cover g mpri ing a elongated protec ive in ingvmember ;.of readily bendable material having 1a '1 on g.itwi 1' 1.1al bend intermediate the longitudinal edge portions thereof forming a base portion and an upwardly inclined marginal portion connected thereto, said base portion being provided with spaced apertures for receiving fasteners to secure said base to a supporting surface, a cover portion connected to the edge portion of said base to overlie said base in spaced relationship and adapted to be bent to grip on the edge portion of a floor covering therebetween to form a protective binding therefor, the junction of said cover and base portion being provided with downwardly projecting toe portion which is adapted to bite into supporting surface so as to positively prevent foreign matter from accumulating under the floor covering, and a separate anchor member of different material connected to said upwardly inclined marginal portion and having means thereon for securely gripping said floor covering thereto.

4. A protective, anchoring device for a floor covering comprising an elongated protective, readily bendable binding member of relatively soft material having a longitudinal bend intermediate the edge portions thereof forming a base portion and an upwardly inclined marginal portion connected thereto, said base portion being provided with spaced apertures for receiving fasteners to secure said base to a supporting surface, a cover portion connected to the longitudinal edge portion of said base to overlie said base portion in spaced relationship and adapted to be readily bent to grip an edge portion of a floor covering therebetween to form a protective binding therefor, the junction of said cover and base portion being provided with downwardly projecting toe portion which is adapted to bite into the support surface so as to positively prevent foreign matter from accumulating under a floor covering, and an anchor member of relatively harder material being more resistant to bending than the binding member and connected to said marginal portion and having supporting means therefor to engage a supporting surface and means for piercing and securely gripping said floor covering thereto.

5. In a protective anchoring device for a floor covering, an elongated protective binding member of relatively soft, readily bendable material having an upwardlyinclined marginal portion, and an anchoring member of relatively harder material more resistant to bending than the binding member connected to said marginal portion, said anchoring member having a longitudinal bend intermediate the edges thereof forming a leg portion which is adapted to engage a supporting surface in substantially perpendicular relationship and a downwardly-inclined table portion adapted to be spaced from said supporting surface to engage said upwardly-inclined portion, interconnecting means for connecting said anchor member to said binding member and means projecting from said table portion to pierce and secure a floor covering thereto so that the covering is firmly anchored to a supporting surface.

6. In a protective anchoring device for a floor covering, an elongated protective binding member of relatively soft, readily bendable material having an upwardly-inclined marginal portion having longitudinally spaced apertures therein, and an anchoring member of relatively harder material more resistant to bending than the binding member having a longitudinal bend intermediate the edges thereof forming a leg portion which is adapted to engage a supporting surface in substantially perpendicular relationship and a downwardly-inclined table portion adapted to be spaced from said supporting surface to engage said upwardly-inclined portion, said table portion having spaced tongue members to project through said apertures for connecting said anchor member to said binding member and means projecting upwardly from said table portion to pierce and secure a floor covering thereto so that it is firmly anchored to a supporting surface.

7. A protective anchoring device for a floor covering comprising an elongated protective, readily bendable binding member having a longitudinal bend intermediate the longitudinal edge portions thereof forming a base portion and an upwardly-inclined marginal portion connected thereto, said base portion being provided with spaced apertures for receiving fasteners to secure said base to a supporting surface, a cover portion connected to the edge portion of said base and readily bent to overlie said base in spaced relationship and adapted to grip an edge portion of a floor covering therebetween to form a protective binding therefor; an anchor member more resistant to bending than said binding member and having a longitudinal bend intermediate the edge portions thereof, forming a leg portion which is adapted to engage a supporting surface and a downwardly-inclined table portion, said upwardly-inclined marginal portion and downwardly-inclined table portion having tongue and aperture connecting means whereby the said anchor member is secured to said protective binding member, and said anchor members having means for piercing and securely gripping the floor covering so as to firmly adhere it to a supporting surface.

8. A protective anchoring device for a floor covering comprising an elongated protective, readily bendable binding member having a longitudinal bend intermediate the longitudinal edge portions thereof forming a base portion and an upwardly-inclined marginal portion connected thereto, said base portion being provided with spaced apertures for receiving fasteners to secure said base to a supporting surface, a cover portion connected to the edge portion of said base and readily bent to overlie said base in spaced relationship and adapted to grip an edge portion of a floor covering therebetween to form a protective binding therefor, the junction of said cover and base portion being provided with downwardlyprojecting toe portion which is adapted to bite into the supporting surface so as to prevent foreign matter from accumulating under a floor covering; an anchor member more resistant to bending than said binding member and having a longitudinal bend intermediate the edge portions thereof, forming a leg portion which is adapted to engage a supporting surface and a downwardly-inclined table portion, said upwardly-inclined marginal portion and downwardly-inclined table portion having connecting means whereby the said anchor member is secured to said protective binding member, and said anchor member having means for piercing and securely gripping the floor covering so as to firmly anchor it to a supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,882 Howerton Aug. 14, 1888 1,770,215 McIntyre July 8, 1930 2,238,946 Roberts Apr. 22, 1941 2,258,314 Bonnell Oct. 7, 1941 2,587,836 Goodemoot Mar. 4, 1952 2,602,952 Owens July 15, 1952 2,731,660 White Jan. 24, 1956 2,736,054 White Feb. 28, 1956 

